tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45215696456195217942018-03-09T08:44:16.433-08:00Meridian Moment by Norma L. BrumbaughMeridian Woman: Words of Wisdom for today: Observations, contemplation, considerations, and spiritual insights.Norma L. Brumbaughhttps://plus.google.com/103403956549329767617noreply@blogger.comBlogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4521569645619521794.post-12201402345592369182018-03-01T22:34:00.001-08:002018-03-09T08:44:16.463-08:00THE LADY IN RED<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lxtJUxfEDNg/UuwoJkac_vI/AAAAAAAABNE/P0IyMsKUIck0-BuBN1MQzZVemCC9B_wLQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lxtJUxfEDNg/UuwoJkac_vI/AAAAAAAABNE/P0IyMsKUIck0-BuBN1MQzZVemCC9B_wLQCPcBGAYYCw/s200/image.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>I called her, 'the lady in red'. I'd see her almost every day on the same street. Walking. Walking fast. Wearing a dress, not pants. Not just any dress, though, but one that was flouncy, bright and noticeable from the distance. You'd see the red, the hat, and her quick gait. Her dresses were tight to the waist and then with a full skirt, like 50s style. Red belt, red hat, and red heels, not sexy or tawdry but happy and cheerful, and old-fashioned-like.<br /><br />Other times she wore a red dress with flamboyant accessories, or a black dress with scarlet accessories, or wearing a bright blue print with red accents. And the handbag, always a large handbag. The big brimmed hat, too. The hat, the bag, and the dressy-dress made her stand out. And her stride. She was in a hurry, places to go, people to see, shopping to do. I looked for her whenever I was driving in that section of town. It was common to see her in the late afternoon. Usually she was on the same side of the street as me, walking on a sidewalk, her back to me as I drove on by. <br /><br />Her hair was curly, shoulder-length, bouncy, like the determined, bouncy way she walked. I wondered her story. Hers was not the normal stride but that of the person marching to her own tune. I never knew, of course, and I never talked to her. She was walking, and I was hauling a car full of kids.<br /><br />We moved out of the area. Five years later we were back. A few weeks into our return, I spotted her. She had aged. Her hair was now pepper and salt in color. Her dresses, not quite so outlandish. But she was going shopping, walking fast, carrying a colorful tote bag in hand. It felt good to see her again, to know she was still around. Every time I saw her I would smile. She had a cheerful aura about her, and I knew she had to be a good person by the way she dressed, the kind of person that celebrates life and says nice things to make others feel good. She had character, more than most.<br /><br />Then one day, years later, the front page of the local paper boasted a picture of her. She'd passed on, and they'd written an article about her. Now I knew her name. Now I learned she'd been homeless off and on but a favorite in town. Now I knew she made a lot of people smile and was loved by merchants and homeless alike. She'd been an encourager to many. In fact, the locals were covering her funeral expenses. The lady in red was going out in style, beloved by many in the community.<br /><br />I've always wanted to write about her because she impressed me and touched something in me that others have not. Her inner beauty was magical even though she was doing what she did without a concern for what we thought about it. <i>She liked being beautiful. She liked color. She loved red. She liked purpose and was about her business. </i>Though different than mine or others, there was something special about it, and about her.<br /><br />Look for the beauty and you will find it. <br /><br /><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://meridianwoman.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss</div>Norma L. Brumbaughhttps://plus.google.com/103403956549329767617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4521569645619521794.post-1951452547934628062018-02-23T12:25:00.000-08:002018-02-23T15:22:17.989-08:00A SPIRITUAL ANTIDOTE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">ANTIDOTE FOR THE STRUGGLE?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FJNJP88p4VI/Ui01tSgAAjI/AAAAAAAAAjs/OR7wIVzrWiMfqpyU8Drd4yvtr9Mn_f_1QCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FJNJP88p4VI/Ui01tSgAAjI/AAAAAAAAAjs/OR7wIVzrWiMfqpyU8Drd4yvtr9Mn_f_1QCPcBGAYYCw/s200/image.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />As one ages you bear more burdens: Loss upon loss, heartache upon heartache, disappointment upon disappointment. Even culturally, you seek to adjust to the constant change, some good, but some not so good. I can understand why some people pull in and quit trying so hard.<br /><br />What to do?<br /><br />As we age, we must make good decisions and choose to look on the bright side of life. We must look to our best friends for validation and encouragement, and to hear our hearts. We must embrace the love of our Heavenly Father. We must also learn to let go, release, choose to forgive, release, and realize the need to accept there are some things we cannot change, release. Prayer is a huge part of this. God helps us release when we ask him to. He also helps us heal. He guides us on the path.<br /><br />Okay, how about in real life?<br /><br />I look at my folks and feel for them. Life is not the same or as enjoyable. Besides the normal aging process with it's health issues, many of my folks'friends are passing on, people they used to play cards with, vacation with, go out to eat with, attend church with. That's a hard thing once you're getting up there in years.<br /><br />As their children, we try to fill in the gap. We do the little things that make them smile. One of our frequent happy moments is looking out the kitchen window as we view the clouds, blue sky, the Sierra Nevada mountains with snow peaks. We enjoy eating a home cooked meal that we kids brought, or talking about their past or some current event. Our purpose is to help them and make them happy as much as we can.<br /><br />The point is, we can give, and giving gives us pleasure.<br /><br />Life is not easy, but life is good. We can celebrate life or we can be overwhelmed by it. I find it easier to celebrate life when I apply prayer for my family and other concerns. It lifts the monkey off my back by releasing the fears, worries, and concerns. I give the details to God and then let them rest with him. I pray blessings on people and situations. Then I do it the next day, and next. . . . God is good, very good. I center myself in this knowledge.<br /><br />But is there an antidote?<br /><br />Yes! Decidedly, yes. PRAISE and THANKSGIVING. We find our antidote through the practice of applying praise and thanksgiving in all things. This is a cultivated practice that looks at the problem and sees what it teaches and gives. Giving thanks and being grateful changes your mind and shifts your focus. You can also shift it to another subject. Do you have sight, appendages, hearing, friends, loved ones, food, shelter, education, material blessings, pretty things, music . . . ?<br /><br />All of these are praise-worthy.<br /><br />And you're still here, that's a major blessing. Make your words a constant stream of praise to God and your thoughts a river of thankfulness. It will breed a new attitude in you that can face and absorb the endless struggle of life.<br /><br />Do it. Praise and give Thanks. Report back in a few days, weeks, or months. I hope you do.<br /><br />Blessings to all on this lovely day.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://meridianwoman.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss</div>Norma L. Brumbaughhttps://plus.google.com/103403956549329767617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4521569645619521794.post-23030431367316316932018-02-08T00:05:00.000-08:002018-02-08T00:12:14.470-08:00THE GIFT OF BEAUTY<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Celebrate Beauty</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H6kueccTZms/UZ45VO5kETI/AAAAAAAABt0/bSc5jeoys4EKkDgF5nVk_DIhqTttabj4ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/FB%2BJuly%2B2011%2B001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H6kueccTZms/UZ45VO5kETI/AAAAAAAABt0/bSc5jeoys4EKkDgF5nVk_DIhqTttabj4ACPcBGAYYCw/s320/FB%2BJuly%2B2011%2B001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Beauty surrounds us.&nbsp;</span></div><br /><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Beauty unfurled-</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">—</span>graceful lines, smooth surfaces, varied hues of color, uneven textures, soft whispers, feather light kisses, ocean waves.</span> <br /><br /><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Beauty within a person comes out in shining radiance, speaking words of kindness and affirmation, gracing others with its presence.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Outward beauty may be cultivated or found in intricate design of human effort, or it may be present in exquisite offerings in nature’s grand display.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">True beauty emerges in a natural form without constraint or alteration; it sings, speaks, heals, lifts, mesmerizes, grips, penetrates, gives.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">A person is blessed who looks for beauty in the every day, who cultivates a sense of wonder, and who finds peace and joy in its presence.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Beauty comes from God, the maker of all things beautiful. Beauty is ours because God has given us eyes to see and hearts to feel.</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Look to the sky today and thank God for it.&nbsp;</span></li><li><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Smell the delicious scent of food baking and thank the cook for it.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></li><li><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Hug a friend and thank them for their friendship.&nbsp;</span></li><li><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Clean something that needs it, and thank God for the ability to do so.&nbsp;</span></li><li><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Listen to music and be thankful for your hearing.&nbsp;</span></li><li><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Touch a soft pillow or the fur of a pet and be thankful for the gift of touch.&nbsp;</span></li><li><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Taste a slice of fresh fruit and be thankful for the gift of taste.&nbsp;</span></li><li><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Read a newspaper, book, blog, or magazine and be thankful you have something to read.</span></li><li><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">All of these are beauties we are given as gifts to enjoy.</span></li></ul><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><i>Thank you, dear God, for the beauty that surrounds us, speaks to us, enfolds us, and endears us to it. You are an artist with the earth as your canvass. In every petal, raindrop, smile, we see some of you and your artistry. You make our world lovely. We must open our eyes to see it and rejoice in it. We are blessed by who you are and what you do.&nbsp; Amen</i> </span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://meridianwoman.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss</div>Norma L. Brumbaughhttps://plus.google.com/103403956549329767617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4521569645619521794.post-83894131925590015472018-02-01T00:02:00.002-08:002018-02-23T15:20:45.739-08:00YOUR DESTINY<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026"/></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout v:ext="edit"> <o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--> <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t-VJTfsUyuc/UeBEka8QRnI/AAAAAAAABt0/rdABuwsMN4U2SxkukHhB2Pv12uAFvc7tQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t-VJTfsUyuc/UeBEka8QRnI/AAAAAAAABt0/rdABuwsMN4U2SxkukHhB2Pv12uAFvc7tQCPcBGAYYCw/s320/image.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Regarding your destiny,&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">YOU have a unique destiny. Discover yours.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">You have a gift that only you can give.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">You have a song that only you can sing.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">You have a message that only you can impart.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span class="textexposedshow">And that's pretty special in my book.</span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://meridianwoman.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss</div>Norma L. Brumbaughhttps://plus.google.com/103403956549329767617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4521569645619521794.post-23464803949274389672018-01-25T00:30:00.000-08:002018-01-25T18:30:35.488-08:00WHAT GOOD WRITERS KNOW: Writing is about Passion, Belief and Message (and money) <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DmktooKqDA8/WmosVraxPKI/AAAAAAAAB0A/x7TY8_MPqFUR9yo6592nT3-avqVO5roMgCLcBGAs/s1600/blog%2Bbut%2Bfirst%2Bcoffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DmktooKqDA8/WmosVraxPKI/AAAAAAAAB0A/x7TY8_MPqFUR9yo6592nT3-avqVO5roMgCLcBGAs/s1600/blog%2Bbut%2Bfirst%2Bcoffee.jpg" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">What Good Writing is Not➤</span></h2><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Writing is not all about making money. </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">If it is only about dollars and cents then it will be of temporary value. This statement is not all that true--I can hear people arguing with me, we're in it to make money, of course--but a writer at heart usually finds they are compelled to write from some driving force within them.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">For most writers, yes, they're in it for the money and may write stuff they don't tell Mom about or that is a means to an end as a way to support themselves and the family. And that's okay. I am going to make a distinction. A writer with a message or the writer who knows they were meant to write, writes out of their inner need to share the message. They will write the writing even if they're not paid to do so. Writing is in their blood.</span></div></blockquote><br /><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Writing is not about making a name for yourself, though it's extra nice if you do. Star power is a motivator and driving force for many writers. I think few are exempt from the dream of being interviewed by a celebrity. But this is not a realistic expectation.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Writing is not just writing a book or for other publications. Writing is knowing the craft, learning the business end, finding the best 'how to' for marketing your wares, connecting with people who can help you or befriend you, and writing is general skills development in writing know-how. These all are involved big time.</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Writing is not for quitters. Real writers don't quit though they may receive very little encouragement on the journey. They dig deep and push themselves to keep on learning, producing, and sharing. Writers give it their best, then give it their best Best and so forth and so on.</span><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">What Good Writing Is➤</span></h3><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Writing is about passion, about having something to say that's worth saying; some worthy idea the writer believes has merit and meaning. A writer's gotta have the passion for it or it ain't going anywhere.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Writing is communicating big ideas with carefully crafted wordings. Well-written works are a delight to the reader, like icing on a cake. The audience of readers love the taste of good writing and experiencing its emotional tenor. Writers continue to develop this skill with every article and book they write.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Writing is speaking with a musicality endearing to the reader, causing them to want more. Some writers have it, and you always want more and more of what they write. Their voice is distinctive and pulls you in. They make a promise to the reader and will deliver.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Writing is about communicating with an audience, connecting to their soul. </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span class="textexposedshow">Writing speaks to the heart and grasps the person who reads it. Good (great) writing has the power to make a difference and endures over time; and it has the capacity to become legendary. </span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Writing captures ideas to bring them to life, and it incorporates understanding of h<span class="textexposedshow">uman foibles, errors and triumphs. The element of story will never go out of style. Great writing tells (and shows) story well.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span class="textexposedshow">Writing is doing the hard work for the purpose to get out the writer's message and create value for their readers. I don't care what it is, a writer's gonna have to work for it and provide substance for the reader. Writing clean and clear is a must have.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span class="textexposedshow"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span class="textexposedshow">Writing is consistency, belief, work, vision, connecting with others, and much, much more. Great writers treat writing like a business you go to every day and take the time to learn and do well. There are no shortcuts.</span></span><br /><h3 style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">What Great Writers Know➤</span></h3><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Great writers write because their voices refuse to be silenced. The fire burns within them. Some have written from prison cells where they languished because of their beliefs. Thoughts came to them in the quietness of the hidden place behind walls of separation. The world is better off because of their contributions. For them, their writing was bound to their message that needed to get out.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Great writers have expectations of themselves. The journey may be difficult with problems that interfere and derail the effort. They may receive criticisms that seem unjust and unmerited but they soon learn to develop a thick skin and to move forward and keep their eye on the goal. If they need a writing schedule to get the job done, they will make a schedule and do their best to keep it. They do what it takes.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Great writers know writing is the observation of the nuances of language and emotions of living; that show the spirit of the spiritual and evil of the diabolical; that comes together in a clash of plot and message, that teaches through subliminal message and characterization through plot, that weaves the very essence of life and living in a fluid, intelligent, beautifully woven writing that speaks the language of its audience.</span></div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">&nbsp;</span></span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Passion and writing are like hand in glove, one needs the other to make it work.&nbsp;</span> </span></h4></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://meridianwoman.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss</div>Norma L. Brumbaughhttps://plus.google.com/103403956549329767617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4521569645619521794.post-26704162498173744022018-01-18T00:00:00.000-08:002018-01-18T00:39:55.919-08:00ONE SWEET STORY<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><h2 style="text-align: left;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><b>An Afternoon Visit</b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">&nbsp;</span></h2><div style="text-align: left;"><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">And One Hidden Sorrow</span></h3><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">My mother gave a copy of my book to friends of theirs who were in their 9<span class="textexposedshow">0s. The woman is losing her sight to macular degeneration. Every night the woman's husband would read to her from my book. How precious is that? He read to her, chapter by chapter, until they came to the end, so it took a while.&nbsp;</span></span></div><br /><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span class="textexposedshow">After they finished the book, I was invited over to their home for a visit. There were a few questions she wanted to ask me from things I had mentioned in the book. She's a petite woman with gracious ways. We sat in their living room and the lovely conversation began.</span></span><br /><br /><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R8i3UH7MQU8/UozvskO2qAI/AAAAAAAABFs/sTk0RDM75DwW-ha4OQbhO-BW2-P01C3uQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/book%2Bimage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="340" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R8i3UH7MQU8/UozvskO2qAI/AAAAAAAABFs/sTk0RDM75DwW-ha4OQbhO-BW2-P01C3uQCPcBGAYYCw/s200/book%2Bimage.jpg" width="132" /></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span class="textexposedshow">Since she isn't able to see well anymore, she told me how she delighted in the details about nature I had described in my book. She said she could see Lookout Point through my eyes. I was asked about my family, my work as a teacher, and some about how I'd worked through troubles in my life. She told me about her family history and her life.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span class="textexposedshow">She and I had the most lovely visit. Her husband had baked homemade oatmeal cookies with raisins for us which he offered to us. Later he sent the leftover cookies home with me, and I offered them to the kids who carpooled with me that same afternoon.&nbsp;</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span class="textexposedshow">Her husband left us to let us do girl-talk. Over the course of a couple of hours, this elderly couple treated me like royalty. Their smiles were genuine. They were glad to meet me. Beautiful people make you feel welcome. And they did that and more.&nbsp;</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span class="textexposedshow">Long into the conversation, the woman shared how she'd also lost a brother the very same way I had lost my sister, to suicide. The subject turned to suicide: what happened, suicide's aftermath, and how you make sense of it. I wondered at the time if that was the real reason I'd been invited.&nbsp;</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span class="textexposedshow">I am approached in private when someone has lost a loved one to suicide. Usually it is a hush-hush subject, for good reason. Suicide is difficult to talk about, even after decades. People want answers, but there are no adequate answers. But we can sorrow, and we can hope together. I hope I brought her some measure of comfort.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span class="textexposedshow"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span class="textexposedshow">I left their house with a song in my heart. It had been time well spent. I would meet them a few more times. Every time we would connect in a sweet way. The last time was at his memorial service. I learned a lot more about their life together. I'm so glad I got to meet them in their home. It was a highlight. Again, after the service, she and I talked for awhile, and we both were blessed. </span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://meridianwoman.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss</div>Norma L. Brumbaughhttps://plus.google.com/103403956549329767617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4521569645619521794.post-73514174675656494162018-01-11T00:30:00.000-08:002018-01-25T19:37:25.717-08:00PREACHER TO ATHEIST?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZdvmeGUbV0E/WlaTsCX2yMI/AAAAAAAABzI/oiCVyk6J5i4H4nVdhzyX6bV9qsKzmvlTQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZdvmeGUbV0E/WlaTsCX2yMI/AAAAAAAABzI/oiCVyk6J5i4H4nVdhzyX6bV9qsKzmvlTQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_0308.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h2>???</h2></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><b>The Sad Story</b></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I WAS DOING RESEARCH when I came across a video of an atheist, who, as a younger man, had been a traveling evangelist. He was sharing his personal story of how he lost his faith and became a skeptic and then an avowed atheist. This gentleman was speaking to an audience of atheists and skeptics who appreciated his comments. They cheered at all the digs and arguments against a biblical creation, God-belief, historic and modern day Christianity. His story was like the reverse of someone coming to faith.</span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Doubt began his journey into disbelief. </span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span class="textexposedshow">I confess to having pondered some of these same thoughts at different times in my spiritual journey, though not near to the degree.</span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The atheistic arguments were the usual ones, and they were well reasoned. As I watched him I became fascinated in a strange sort of way. He was charming and entertaining, genuine. Some things he sa<span class="textexposedshow">id were absolutely true of Christendom. I had to agree with some of his rationale. He clove an axe into areas of faith where hypocrisy and vulnerability abound, where the Christian argument shows weakness. Repeatedly, I think, it comes down to two things: a person's faith and their belief. These, then, inform the whole idea of 'God,' is there a real God? The question of God's goodness as in 'Is God <i>really</i> a good God?' </span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span class="textexposedshow">Then there is the problem of sin. The speaker built his argument against God and took a swing at the concept of 'original sin.' He asked the audience, "How fair is our human plight when all of humankind is damned because of one man's sin?" It goes something like this; "If original sin is true then we are part of a set-up that is to our disadvantage. How could a good God do that to the human race?"&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span class="textexposedshow">That is the argument against God and humans having a relationship with him. Then completing the thought, he supplied his conclusion. "A good God would not do that to the people he has made and says he loves." Those were some of the speaker’s objections to Christian and theistic beliefs, which was what originally started him on a path of doubt that grew until it blossomed into his personal choice to disbelieve its 'perceived' truth.&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Doubt is a tool used against our souls. Yet there is this; </span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">to turn away from belief in God could feel like freedom when you do not agree with the premise of belief any longer. I contend, it could also feel like a gargantuan loss. Stars would lose their brilliance. The reason for living with its form of right and wrong that promotes common decency and fair treatment of others, morality and goodness, would be absent, gone. Being close to God as his beloved child, would be nonexistent.&nbsp; The loss and re-positioning of one's belief system would act as a change agent in one's life.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">For me, God means too much and has been too real for me to consider him to be a misconception or an untruth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; I sense his presence and know his ministering spirit. I know joy in a greater capacity. His truth feeds my soul. Jesus is my Way, my Truth, and my Life. Easy believism is not Christianity, for to follow Christ there comes a surrendering of self to him as he becomes your Lord and Savior, and it changes you.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> I cannot look at something beautiful without thinking of the God who made it. </span></span>I wish every could be open to the possibility of there being a God. It would change the world.</span></span></span><br /><br /><b><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">On a Side Note</span></span></span></b><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Little parts of this story I have identified with in my own life, that of changing course mid-stream, although not in regard to loss of faith. In my faith journey I came to a place of stepping out in a new direction with my faith's practice when my beliefs about God had broadened, and I saw his work in people's lives in contrast to my former, more scripted, beliefs. I knew I must follow the way of the cross, the way I believe Christ lived his life and ministered to the spiritually hungry.&nbsp;</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 150%;">My focus altered. I firmly held to the same tenants of the faith but the outworking of them in my life was became different. I had been transformed. I no longer felt confined by the structures of how others thought I had to live my faith, but I did feel alone. Many rarely look at the big picture of how the puzzle fits together. I’ve thought about the atheist's comments all day. I understand his argument, we could all go down that trail. Doubts are to be contended and reckoned with accordingly. Be aware of this side to spirituality. </span></span> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://meridianwoman.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss</div>Norma L. Brumbaughhttps://plus.google.com/103403956549329767617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4521569645619521794.post-90469308330212069392018-01-04T20:25:00.000-08:002018-01-25T19:38:36.249-08:00BEAUTY LIFTS THE SOUL<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K8TXDC8lzIQ/UiynMywKeyI/AAAAAAAAAjA/DasF5iRLYNg1E9SP_QjQ9pvYuJloDas1gCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K8TXDC8lzIQ/UiynMywKeyI/AAAAAAAAAjA/DasF5iRLYNg1E9SP_QjQ9pvYuJloDas1gCPcBGAYYCw/s320/image.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Dear friend,<br /><br />If you could give yourself an amazing gift, what would it be?<br /><br />If I had given myself something for Christmas, the gift better than any other would have been to use my abilities to create something that would help make our world a saner place--to help its people want to be kinder and nobler in spirit. Great writing can do that when it moves people to act on behalf of others.<br /><br />Part of me wants to write a story that will move hearts, that will move lives, that will change the way we perceive and then do. I want to reach the masses, not just one group within the masses. But I also realize one has to have something to give in order for there to be something of value others can receive.<br /><br />There are taboo subjects that one could write about and be the worse off for it. Courage says it's worth the cost. One can be imprisoned for their beliefs and mistreated for their affiliations. Some countries limit the conversation. Wouldn't it be wonderful to write a novel that could say the message without censor and is read throughout the world?<br /><br />A redemptive message is found in almost every novel. Why is that? I think it is because we all need some redeeming, and we want to see the good guy win, we want to see the problem end up being solved, and we want to see people rise above the circumstances. Real life is that way. Did you have any problems in 2017? All of us are in our own personal redemptive story.<br /><br />Beauty lifts the soul. There are many ways to create expressions that speak to soul-need. Humans have great needs. Some of these needs are crushing us, smothering us, pushing us down. Hope says all is not hopeless for if hope is gone, you have little left. What gives hope? A song, a phrase, a picture, verse, food, bouquet, photo, painting, scent, jewel, touch and so forth are tangibles that speak hope to us.<br /><br />Depression pulls us inward and stomps on hope. Melancholy moods are common during the holidays and winter days. They hit me too, like when I was shopping in K-Mart. I was thinking about my family and how I wasn't able to be with them for Christmas. &nbsp;But we don't want to stay there. We have to do something about it. Go for a walk. Meet with a friend. Visit a loved one. Read an inspirational story. Pray to God.<br /><br />Hope lifts us up. The bright side is the opposite of the dark side. I wish I could say or do something that would carry the multitudes to the brighter side of life. Wouldn't that be grand? Think of the good that could be done if we did all for love's sake? I wish you much love today, and tomorrow, and on throughout the new year.<br /><br />God's best,<br /><i>Norma</i> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://meridianwoman.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss</div>Norma L. Brumbaughhttps://plus.google.com/103403956549329767617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4521569645619521794.post-72229732884325586022017-12-22T13:36:00.001-08:002018-01-25T19:18:23.878-08:00A CHRISTMAS RE-BOOT<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026"/> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout v:ext="edit"> <o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--><b><span style="color: red;">MELANCHOLY CHRISTMAS WOES</span></b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JFgcvFSSxXE/Wj15Q0K-FoI/AAAAAAAABww/kq_zswEynPwyn1xHEDw1t942e5VBYV29wCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_0276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JFgcvFSSxXE/Wj15Q0K-FoI/AAAAAAAABww/kq_zswEynPwyn1xHEDw1t942e5VBYV29wCEwYBhgL/s320/IMG_0276.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Dear Friend,</span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"></div><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">The Christmas season is here and most are enjoying it. <i>Are you? </i>Some are having a few melancholy moments. I’ve had some myself. They hit you at odd and unexpected times. You can be anywhere when, BOOM, it hits you. <i>I'm feeling sad, not happy. I don't like this. I wish I wasn't alone. </i>You know the drill.</span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"></div><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">I hear you.</span></i><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">The other day I was in K-Mart when sadness enveloped me. I was missing my kids and wishing I could be with all of them for Christmas. Next, a feeling of wistfulness about a lost friend washed over me. At Christmastime, it seems worse for some reason. Then I got myself back in the groove, found what I was looking for, and headed back to home.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">My sister and I sometimes talk about the past, what it used to be like on Christmas Day, when all the extended family got together at my folks’ place. It was a full day of blessing. We had a tradition of singing Christian Christmas songs every Christmas. This year it will not be happening. Life goes on.</span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"></div><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><ul><li><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">I want you to enjoy the day.&nbsp;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">If you are missing someone, now is a good time to look back at the sweet and special times you had together.&nbsp;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Look at pictures of them.&nbsp;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Shed a few tears.&nbsp;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Pray for them.&nbsp;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Remember the good days and warm embraces. You can still love them.&nbsp;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Listen to Christmas music or watch a favorite movie.&nbsp;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Read a Christmas story or the biblical account in Luke 2.&nbsp;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Sip eggnog or drink hot cocoa, that always helps me.</span></li></ul></div><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"></div><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">People help in soup kitchens and rescue missions. Some take food to the poor and homeless. Some take in a Christmas Eve service. Others look at Christmas lights. Christmas church services are attended by some of the faithful on Christmas Day. Join up, if you’ve a mind to.</span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"></div><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Know you are loved by Jesus, the baby in a manger, the Christ-child who became the Savior of the world. His life was lived with purpose, and you were part of that purpose. He loves you so very, very much. He watches over you, keeps you, helps you, wants to fill you with his love. Pray and He will hear you. Say the first words that come to your heart, "Jesus, I'm having a hard time. Help me." He hears the cries of our heart. Jesus appreciates authenticity without the add-ons. He's that sort of Spirit Being.</span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"></div><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">God bless you. I wish you the best. Have a beautiful Christmas.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"></div><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Norma L. Brumbaugh<span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">, Meridian Woman</i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://meridianwoman.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss</div>Norma L. Brumbaughhttps://plus.google.com/103403956549329767617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4521569645619521794.post-59218749668172561532016-11-11T20:10:00.002-08:002016-11-11T20:12:13.861-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sI5TybksYMk/UiikF7EbAFI/AAAAAAAAAic/JjyK_MEZBBEGhiFa9tpjWWKifgrozsjPgCPcB/s1600/What%2Bis%2Ba%2BFriend%2Bcard%2B001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sI5TybksYMk/UiikF7EbAFI/AAAAAAAAAic/JjyK_MEZBBEGhiFa9tpjWWKifgrozsjPgCPcB/s640/What%2Bis%2Ba%2BFriend%2Bcard%2B001.jpg" width="529" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://meridianwoman.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss</div>Norma L. Brumbaughhttps://plus.google.com/103403956549329767617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4521569645619521794.post-31300512298540005732014-03-18T22:58:00.000-07:002016-02-27T23:33:05.593-08:00When the Children Pray, A Miracle called Rain<span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>RAIN . RAIN . RAIN. Yup, that's what the need is. Something called Rain.</b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FGsyCf5AzMg/UykxmxZ4YaI/AAAAAAAABWM/F02I_E3Wqmc/s1600/0313001222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FGsyCf5AzMg/UykxmxZ4YaI/AAAAAAAABWM/F02I_E3Wqmc/s1600/0313001222.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>No rain. It is January. The weather is like spring. The sky is clear</b>. The grass on the hills is dry, the lakes are at 33 percent of their capacity, a meager snow pack in the mountains, there's no food for the cattle in the hill country, the farmers have crops and orchards they may not be able to irrigate come summer, the northern California communities are starting to get alarmed, water conservation is becoming a reality, farmers are irrigating tree crops in winter, unprecedented, never been done before. It is starting to look like summer in the dead of winter. Concern is growing to alarm.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>The water situation in California is dire</b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>An announcement:</b> It's official: <b>Worst drought on record.</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Season total so far: <b>4</b> inches rainfall.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Normal season total in January: <b>18</b> inches rainfall.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>PEOPLE START PRAYING.</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>I gather the children at my church to tell them the story of Elijah</b>. I tell them why it didn't rain for over three years... not even a drop of dew. I explain how the hearts of the people turned hard against the Lord. That God wanted their attention. I bring it home. I show newspaper pictures of Lake Oroville with its barren basin, looking like a puddle of water at the bottom of a steep canyon. Time to learn how real prayer works, the reason I have chosen this story. It is a teachable moment. <i>Do we have the faith?</i> First, private prayer, the children and leaders getting our hearts right before God. Next, we gather in a circle, children and leaders. I explain that we are going to pray, in faith believing. We begin to pray. Three children ask God to send rain. One says, "We don't want it to be like when Elijah lived. We don't want the people to turn away from you. We need rain. Could you send rain?" I ask God to send us an abundance of rain. We leave. <i>Will God answer our prayer of faith?</i> I knew it was a risk. Yet. It was in my heart that God wanted us to do this ... together.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>No rain the next day...and the next day, and the next, and nex</b>t. Then a few sprinkles--but not much. I pray and I pray, and I pray some more.<i> Please, Father God, won't you send us some rain.</i> I want God to perform a miracle just for the children, and for everybody else in California. I pray several times a day. Other people in the State are praying, I read about it in the paper. I ask Facebook friends and Twitter contacts to pray.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>I wake up to clouds on Wednesday, it's Awana children's club day.</b> That morning the rain begins to descend. It starts to pour, and pour. By evening, it has been a steady rainfall. My heart rejoices. I can't wait to connect the dots with the children.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>I gather the children to tell them the end of the story of Elijah. </b>They learn about the contest at Mount Carmel. We see the prophets of Baal crying out to their god to send down fire. Nothing happens. They plead, beg, cut themselves. Nothing. <i>nothing</i>... Elijah stands up. He repairs the altar. He says to dig a trench around the altar. Precious water is poured, and poured some more, over the sacrifice--streaming down the altar into the trench. Elijah prays a simple prayer before the people and the godless prophets of Baal. He asks God to show his presence by sending fire to the sacrifice. Fire bolts down from heaven--consuming the sacrifice, the stones, and even the water in the trench. The people see the might of God. They fall of their faces. "The Lord, He is God. The Lord, He is God," they acknowledge. A rain cloud appears in the distance. Elijah declares, <i>"Hurry down the mountain</i> <i>for I hear an abundance of rain</i>. The rain pours, and pours, and pours. God has answered.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>The children and I speak of our own miracle, the rain God has sent. </b>We pray, our words thank God for the rain. His answer to our prayers. We ask for more rain. God sends some more in the weeks to follow. Our faith has been stretched. We see in living color what God has provided. Not only the children, but the adults find that their faith has been strengthened.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>Since that day, when we asked for rain</b>, northern California has received approximately seven inches of rain. There is grass on the hills. Lake Oroville is at 45 percent capacity. There's a deeper snow pack in the mountains and some runoff for the lakes. The plants look refreshed. The drought has eased, at least to some extent, the situation less dire.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>No, California isn't out of the woods</b> and the drought will still affect us. There will be conservation measures, and less crops in agricultural regions. But. But, it certainly is better than it was. I"m glad the children prayed. <b><i>&nbsp;</i></b></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b><i>Thank you, God, for answering the faith of a child.</i></b></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://meridianwoman.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss</div>Norma L. Brumbaughhttps://plus.google.com/103403956549329767617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4521569645619521794.post-13253573966509829682014-03-06T11:14:00.004-08:002016-02-27T22:52:35.806-08:00A Love Story in Reverse: Miracles Still Happen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IWiJeosAaoI/UxjIZx3xivI/AAAAAAAABVE/VKsjD4LXJ7Q/s1600/blog+miracles+&amp;+heart+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IWiJeosAaoI/UxjIZx3xivI/AAAAAAAABVE/VKsjD4LXJ7Q/s1600/blog+miracles+&amp;+heart+pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><h1><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span data-mce-style="color: #000000;" style="color: black;"><b>I have this friend who has struggled with her marriage relationship for as long as I have known her.</b>&nbsp; </span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span data-mce-style="color: #000000;" style="color: black;">Not a first marriage for either of them, but the first Christian marriage for both of them. Their religious belief is what brought them together initially, the opportunity for a better second marriage, becoming the focus of a union based on Christian living. But, as is often the case, it was not easy. There were the children from both marriages and its stressful dynamic. There were the unresolved issues from their first marriages, a carry-over from the hurt and rejection they both had experienced. Greater than these areas was a lack of understanding on how to make love work for them. One partner seemed to dominate the relationship and the other had some areas that needed attention as well. Several times they went to their minister for counsel, independently and also as a couple. </span></span></span></span></h1><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span data-mce-style="color: #000000;" style="color: black;"><b>They both wanted the marriage to be successful and to bring them happiness.</b> But happiness seemed to elude them. They went through job losses, family troubles, and financial crises. Life was hard. Then it came to a point that one summer she left him, not for someone else but because something had to change between them. The love was there in a remote place hard to access. The impossibility of it all had created a deadness deep inside her, and I assume, deep inside him as well.&nbsp; He missed her, wanted her to come back. People at church didn't know what was going on. He seemed lost without her. With his promise to try to work on their relationship and to be more attentive, she came back a couple of months later. They recommitted their purpose together.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span data-mce-style="color: #000000;" style="color: black;"><b>Those of us from the outside looking in could see a spark being rekindled</b>. We saw them both trying. He became more gentle with her in his speech, more demonstrative by putting his arm around her as they sat in church. She was less to complain about him to her friends, less to voice frustration with him. They led in a children's ministry and made it blossom, keeping their stuff to themselves as they worked together side-by-side, choosing to be united in front of others. It couldn't have been easy with their personalities and past history. He was the more vocal in public, expressing his desire to be the man God wanted him to be--and meaning it. He would ask difficult questions about living the Christian life, about how to let go of the things that hinder, to move in the direction of a man who is an authentic seeker of God. It was good to watch. I saw in her this same desire, to be a woman after God's own heart. She would talk to me about her wishes in the spiritual realm. However, something was still was elusive in their relationship. They couldn't seem to connect on an emotional level, to feel things as one, to be in harmony.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span data-mce-style="color: #000000;" style="color: black;"><b>Valentine's Day, 2014, ushered in a new beginning for this couple</b>. She told me about it in person a couple of weeks later. We were talking about other church-related topics. After I remarked how I have seen positive changes in both she and her mate,</span><span data-mce-style="color: #000000;" style="color: black;"><span data-mce-style="color: #000000;" style="color: black;"> I asked her how they were doing these days</span>. She began to share a story with me. We were like sisters, sharing a joy after the days of sorrow have passed. Here is her story.</span></span><br /><blockquote><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span data-mce-style="color: #000000;" style="color: black;"><b>She walked in the door in the late afternoon on Valentine's Day, weary from her work. </b>The first thing she noticed was the table set all fancy like with candles, nice dishes, and a bouquet of flowers. The house smelt delicious and her husband was busy in the kitchen. He greeted her with a hug and smile and then returned to cooking dinner. The music was playing as they ate by candlelight. This was different than ever before. There was something about him that was extra attentive. After they ate, he said to her, "Why don't we dance?" They turned up the music and began to dance. Tears began to flow. He asked her why she was crying.</span> </span></blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span data-mce-style="color: #000000;" style="color: black;">"This is what I've always wanted," she said to him while nestled in his warm embrace.<br /> </span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span data-mce-style="color: #000000;" style="color: black;">"I know you have. But I never knew how to give my love to you, how to show you," he replied, his voice expressing regret.</span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span data-mce-style="color: #000000;" style="color: black;">"What happened? Why now?" She asked him.</span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span data-mce-style="color: #000000;" style="color: black;">With softness in his eyes, he replied, "Last night when we were singing that song about love with the children at church, my heart was touched. And then, that lesson that Jennifer gave for Valentine's Day explaining the different types of love, somehow, while she was talking about Agape' love, I finally understood it. I can't explain it, but suddenly I knew what was missing, and saw how I didn't know how to live out my love for you and was keeping myself from expressing it to you.&nbsp; It's like something clicked. I knew I needed to show you how much you mean to me. I want you to be happy."</span></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span data-mce-style="color: #000000;" style="color: black;"><b>My friend turned to me and smiled.</b> I was so happy for her. I knew how much she had longed for his love and to rest in it (to feel secure in it), and how she had prayed for years that something would change between them. I asked if I could share her story in a blog as a way to encourage others who are discouraged with their mates and marriage. She nodded. As in many things, </span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span data-mce-style="color: #000000;" style="color: black;">the wait may be long but that isn't necessarily the end of the story.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span data-mce-style="color: #000000;" style="color: black;"><b>Miracles still happen.</b> </span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://meridianwoman.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss</div>Norma L. Brumbaughhttps://plus.google.com/103403956549329767617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4521569645619521794.post-54009515821783914102014-02-22T12:49:00.000-08:002014-03-10T11:39:43.190-07:00Olympics & The Heart of a Champion<span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;K&quot;}"><b><i><span style="color: blue;">An Olympic Champion.&nbsp;</span></i></b></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;K&quot;}"><b><i><span style="color: blue;">&nbsp;</span></i>&nbsp;</b></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;K&quot;}"><b>I always enjoy the Olympics.</b> I've watched them through many seasons of life, starting with my childhood. I have my favorites in the select group of Olympic champions. Thanks to the internet, I can enjoy revisiting their moments of triumph, and those other times when I thought they should have won, and they didn't, their performance so lovely it brought tears to my eyes and warmth to my soul.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;K&quot;}"><b>One observes the heart of a champion</b>, a desire within like a flame that refuses to die, increasing in brightness as it gains it's strength--despite setbacks and disappointments. We saw a few of these in the past two weeks. They persevered regardless of major physical traumas from past competitions and some failures that mentally would have to be overcome. They arrived, loaded for bear! Ready to compete as an overcomer, a champion; one who is not easily deterred.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;K&quot;}"><b>It is also hard to see champions fail, or lose their edge</b>. Yet, their flame is still lit and glowing. It will always glow brightly. It's in their blood, the heart of a champion. They live in our memories like fond friends. We enjoy seeing them on t.v. or whenever we get a chance. Some will live on forever. I respect their courage, fortitude, and achievements.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;K&quot;}"><b>Thanks to all the hardworking families,</b> who sacrifice to support their children's dreams; a dream that is nurtured and developed until one day they shine brightly on the world stage.<span style="color: blue;"> <span style="color: black;">Those of us sitting at home in our places of ease, do not know the true cost and joy of a champion's pursuit of perfection</span>.<span style="color: black;"> It started with a belief, that grew to a desire, was flamed into a dream, developed through time and tears, and blossomed into an olympic champion. </span></span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;K&quot;}"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><b>Thank you. <span style="color: blue;">You are</span></b> </span><b>talented, persevering, and beautiful</b></span>. We appreciate you and your hard work and the effort with which you reach to the stars. Carry on!</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;K&quot;}">#The Olympics #Olympic champion </span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://meridianwoman.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss</div>Norma L. Brumbaughhttps://plus.google.com/103403956549329767617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4521569645619521794.post-45311666278941391072014-02-20T19:16:00.000-08:002016-02-27T22:52:44.473-08:00Character is as Character does<span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Character: You can't manufacture it. You must cultivate it. </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XPApIRjWAGk/Uwa97SUmZKI/AAAAAAAABUE/3pcnmb8-WIw/s1600/Twitter++CHARACTER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XPApIRjWAGk/Uwa97SUmZKI/AAAAAAAABUE/3pcnmb8-WIw/s1600/Twitter++CHARACTER.jpg" width="319" /></a></div><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>I guess I'm a little old fashioned.</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">There are some things I miss, living in this day and age. I miss the old days when a person's word was their bond, when a handshake meant good faith that each person would keep their agreement. I miss people being honest, valuing integrity, and honorable in action and deed, when lying was considered a sin and not part of doing business, covering one's tracks, as in the end justifies the means. I dislike the term "I lied," spoken so easily and frequently by people from all walks of life, who don't think twice about the lies they tell to make the story jive for their benefit.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>My parents raised us to be people of character.</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">My parents were intentional about their responsibility in raising us to be good stewards with our lives. They followed the golden rule and the ten commandments in their own lives, and they expected the same from us. I learned to believe in a wrong and a right with few gray areas. Although it sounds harsh by today's relaxed standards, I don't believe it was. In fact, living with a sense of propriety was sensible, practical, and important, allowing a framework for making life's choices.</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>As a teenager and then as a young adult, I began to form my own character.</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">It came down to choices. It is still about choices. It will always be about choices. Every day we make choices. The choices matter. To develop character that has staying power, one must figure out the parameters that will become the boundaries for the way each will live out their life. Without these boundaries, compromise is swift, it is around every corner at work, in every school, and part of every kind of entertainment. A guard must be erected within one's thinking. This is necessary to keep one's mind clean, one's habits appropriate, one's business honest, one's behaviors circumspect. A Christian should care about their character since it is attached to Christ's name. It takes on a greater meaning. God wants us to be people of his way, and his way is just and pure, loving and kind, forgiving and strong.</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>Suggestions for building character:</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">1. Look at the guidelines found in the scriptures. The Ten Commandments' guidelines are a starting point.</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">2. Determine that you will choose to live honestly and with integrity (even when it is challenging).</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">3. Choose like-minded friends who live in a similar way. Stay away from people who negatively influence you or bring you down.</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">4. Remove yourself from areas that lead to compromise, addictive behavior, or deceitful practices<b>.</b></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">5. Do the right thing, even if you have to go it alone. Stand by your principles (know what they are).</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">6. Don't cheat, brag, or self-promote; don't devalue others, put-down others, or act with prejudice.</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">7. Humble yourself, tone down the over-reaching pride, be grateful for the gifts you've been given.</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">8. Help others, often, and with little thought for self. This is a beautiful character trait!</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">9. Self-assess frequently, keep yourself in check, notice warning signs...those little temptations.</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">10. Strive to be kind in word, action, and attitude. Bless others by caring about them.&nbsp; </span><br /><b><br /></b><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><i><b>A farmer must plant the seed in fertile ground.</b> He cultivates the ground, then plants the seed in the tilled soil. The farmer waters the seed, he removes the weeds, he adds nutrients to the soil. The farmer prunes when needed, and encourages sunlight to reach the plants for abundant growth. The crop is harvested after all this has been completed, after much effort, time, and expense has been incurred. The same is true for character. It is developed, nurtured, lived out. It will have a good harvest when the cycle is completed. People of character stand out. They are believed and not doubted. They are honored and not despised. They have depth beyond their peers. Character matters.</i></span><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://meridianwoman.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss</div>Norma L. Brumbaughhttps://plus.google.com/103403956549329767617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4521569645619521794.post-7533558906043007422014-02-15T20:43:00.003-08:002016-02-27T22:52:54.594-08:00Writing Basics: Proofreading and Book Editing Tools<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>Writing is an adventure!</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Looking back on the last two years gives me the right to say that! Starting at nothing and moving toward something started me on an unknown and winding journey. I can look back now and say, I really didn't know what I was doing when I first started out. All I knew was I wanted to write a book as a way to share my thoughts. Before that, I wanted to write, but it was more for the purpose of writing's sake, not for the purpose of sharing a heart-felt message.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>My newest venture in this unknown land, is in the area of editing and proofreading</b>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Quite by accident I landed at <i>The Christian PEN</i>, an organization whose purpose is to help Christian authors, proofreaders, and editors develop their writing skills into marketable services. I signed on as a way for self-development, professional development that will help me become acquainted with this side of the business, and to improve my editing skills (and knowledge of language constructs). I quickly enrolled in a proofreading class already in progress. I also signed up for their Christian PENN conference plus another Christian Writers conference since they dove-tail together back-to-back. My purpose in joining up was to get better at what I do as an author, and, maybe, even down the road, incorporate proofreading and editing as a side-income.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>Like any job, you have to have the right tools, the tools of the trade.</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">We are five weeks into the class. The message comes out loud and clear. You have to do it right, use the right reference tools, and double check your work. <i>The Chicago Manual of Style</i> is the style guide of all style guides, the one used for secular work.<i> The Christian Writer's Manual of Style</i> is for Christian books. <i>Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary</i> is the standard reference tool of the professionals. It is the right dictionary to use. Dictionaries don't all match in word spellings (really!). <i>The Associated Press Stylebook</i> is the reference tool to use for article writing. All of these reference tools should be the most recent edition. For Christian writers, it is also important to note that scripture quotes must be carefully checked for wording, punctuation, and citings. Familiar passages are easy to quote incorrectly. Just because it can be found on the internet does not mean it is quoted correctly.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>It helps to know your stuff!</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><i>Proofreading Secrets of Best-Selling Authors</i> by Kathy Ide, is a newly published book that will be a great asset to any serious writer. I can already tell that it will come in handy and is user-friendly. It is written by the founder of The Christian PEN. She has done us a favor by giving us a handy dandy book that is practical and helpful</span>.<br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">I will include a link to Amazon.com should you wish to hurry on over there right now to purchase one of these books</span>. &nbsp; "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">amazon.com</a> "<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://meridianwoman.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss</div>Norma L. Brumbaughhttps://plus.google.com/103403956549329767617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4521569645619521794.post-72012579779725505812014-02-15T19:45:00.004-08:002016-02-27T22:53:04.052-08:00Love Hunger is Universal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j5v_u4kdPso/UwAutMCQlvI/AAAAAAAABTQ/v6wvUP5flzk/s1600/Twitter++NEED.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j5v_u4kdPso/UwAutMCQlvI/AAAAAAAABTQ/v6wvUP5flzk/s1600/Twitter++NEED.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">What do you need? <span style="color: red;">What do I need?</span> </span></b>What is the greatest need we all have as humans?</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">You need love. I need love. We all need to be loved. It is our greatest need.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">People can meet that need. <span style="color: red;">Some will love us.</span></span></b> The fortunate ones are loved from the moment of their birth. Their family is crazy about them. Some are not so fortunate.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Back in the 1980s, I remember when my son was in the hospital for two weeks. He was in the pediatric unit with his legs strapped up in traction. In the room next to us there was an infant, a baby about two months old. This baby was born with multiple birth defects. His hands and feet were bound in wrappings and it was mentioned to me that he had hydrocephalus as well. The room where he lay in a crib was always dark. Never once did I see a visitor or family member in his room. The on-duty nurse would care for him, but no one held him for more than a few minutes at a time. Rarely was he taken out of the room. The little guy seemed abandoned, unwanted, and he seemed to receive only the basics of care. It made me wonder the particulars. It bothered me. I felt it in my maternal heart, that he was being withheld from bonding with an adult, as if his little life didn't matter. We need love to survive. He needed love. That was the point. The neglect of one so young hurt me to watch. Some have known so little love.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>There is one who meets our love-hunger need. <span style="color: red;">It is Jesus.</span> </b></span>He meets our need to be loved regardless of what the world around us should imply about our worth and value. Jesus walks with us. He talks with us. He listens to our woes and celebrates our joys. Jesus caries our burdens and lifts our cares, even when we are too weary to ask him to do that for us.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>Jesus loves you. <span style="color: red;">He always will love you.</span></b></span> You can count on his love. It never fails. Never, ever fails. You can take that to the bank!</span><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://meridianwoman.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss</div>Norma L. Brumbaughhttps://plus.google.com/103403956549329767617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4521569645619521794.post-89719104115110130792014-02-13T13:17:00.000-08:002016-02-27T22:53:11.321-08:00The Effects of Loss and What to Do About It.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tfBcPxYdf4Y/Uv01R2-l1II/AAAAAAAABSc/exI2J7pOgUQ/s1600/Twitter++LOSS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tfBcPxYdf4Y/Uv01R2-l1II/AAAAAAAABSc/exI2J7pOgUQ/s1600/Twitter++LOSS.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>Loss affects all of us. </b>It is one of those hard things you can't deflect. It comes when it comes. There is no stopping it. The effects of loss crowd into our lives like unwelcome intruders, sabotaging our happiness in sad, hurtful, confusing, difficult-to-deal-with ways.&nbsp; Lost love is a particularly painful loss. It hits hard: separation, divorce, abandonment, relationship break-ups, rejection, dementia, and death.&nbsp; Some losses take a toll in our personal lives. We lose jobs and positions, status and reputation. We lose our innocence, health, finances, possessions, family, and friendships.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>When loss occurs, we are forced to make a choice</b>. What will we do with the bad that just happened to us? Will we meet it head-on, or will we run from it? To be healthy in our emotions after a loss requires that we become proactive in our response to it. The emotion must be figured out, the hidden message we have believed about ourselves (or others) as a result of the loss, that has undermined our steps and brought us to a screeching halt. The feelings of blame or regret, anger or bitterness, towards others, self, or God.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>The pain of loss is strong. Because of this, the cure or remediation will take time, effort, and determination.</b> One must not hide, live in denial, bury or shield the pain. One must choose a better thing, choose life and healing, and another new day. Loss, of any kind, has a grieving period attached. It takes time to sort through the thoughts and feelings associated with the loss. To deny this, is to shut down one's emotions, an unhealthy way of coping. Moving forward, as we deal with loss, will come as we look for answers, solutions, and find them. </span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>If you are in the middle of a personal crisis that has loss attached, I want you to know that you will make it.</b> Do not despair. <i>The sun will rise again.</i> A new day will be yours. Joy comes in the morning. You will find your new path. It may take hours, days, months, or years ... but you will find your way to happiness once again. Join me and many others who have crawled out of the pit, who have been side-lined many times by a curve ball from out of no-where, and chose to hang on to hope for dear life&nbsp; ... and it delivered.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>Blessings always,</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Norma</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><i>Valentine's Day is a hard day for many of us. Be encouraged, anyways. Find your hope. There is always hope. You can count on it.</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><i></i></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">#loss #healing #hope #grief #emotions, #grieving, #pain , job loss, relationship loss</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://meridianwoman.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss</div>Norma L. Brumbaughhttps://plus.google.com/103403956549329767617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4521569645619521794.post-18078899832006439392014-02-10T09:07:00.002-08:002016-02-27T22:53:21.261-08:00Writing, Money, and PurposeIs Writing about Making Money or is Writing about Communicating a Message?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VDNhBXKy_Cc/UvkFkT2NIoI/AAAAAAAABSA/nLo6VepJyZs/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VDNhBXKy_Cc/UvkFkT2NIoI/AAAAAAAABSA/nLo6VepJyZs/s1600/image.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;K&quot;}"><b>Writing is not all about making money, creating a name for yourself, or building a following.</b> </span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;K&quot;}"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;K&quot;}">I think not.</span></span>Those things are part of the deal, but not the most important element.&nbsp; <span style="color: red;"><b>&nbsp;</b></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;K&quot;}"><span style="color: red;"><b>Writing is about passion. </b></span>It's about having something to say that is worth saying, that the writer believes has merit and meaning. </span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;K&quot;}"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;K&quot;}">It has an objective. </span></span>Writing is communicating big ideas in carefully crafted wordings. Writing is speaking with a musicality endearing to the reader, causing them to want more. Writing with substance is to take writing to a level of purposed endeavor which will influence and create something of value for its intended audience.&nbsp; I believe if we only write to make money, then we have missed the point of the greater reason.<br /> <br /> <b>If it is only about dollars and cents, writing will be of a temporary quality with little lasting value.</b> Cranking out volumes of text to print for this purpose only--to pay the bills--in itself is not what writing, in its pure form, is about. Writin<span class="text_exposed_show">g which captures ideas to bring them to life, and incorporates understanding of human foibles, errors and triumphs, will endure and become legendary.<span style="color: red;"><b>&nbsp;</b></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;K&quot;}"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span style="color: red;"><b>The test of time will sift the wheat from the chaff</b></span>. Time showcases the people who know how to write, to spill their guts, to make language speak in ways people can hear whereby causing the cream to rise to the top. Real writing has something to say that is worth saying, if not for others at least for one's self. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;K&quot;}"><span class="text_exposed_show"></span></span></span><br /><span class="userContent" data-ft="{&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;K&quot;}"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>Great writers write because their voices refuse to be silent</b>. <span style="color: red;"><b>&nbsp;</b></span></span></span></span><br /><span class="userContent" data-ft="{&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;K&quot;}"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="color: red;"><b>The fire burns within them.</b></span> Some writers did their writing from prison cells where they languished for their beliefs of no compromise nor deliverance. Thoughts came to them in the quietness of the hidden place behind walls of darkness. There, some of the greatest works blossomed within the harshness of their crucible. The spirit within them would not die or disbelieve in the greater good that could be accomplished if the truth could be released from out of the bowels of their tomb. Some authors' works speak louder in today's world than in the day in which they were written. #Tolkien, Lewis, #Bonhoeffer, #Solzhenitsyn, #Bunyan, the apostle Paul, Saint John, #Merton, and #Chesterton, to name a few, had much to say that came out of lives bound to a greater purpose. The world is a better place, richer in dimension, because of their contributions.</span></span></span><br /><span class="userContent" data-ft="{&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;K&quot;}"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">&nbsp;</span></span></span><span class="userContent" data-ft="{&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;K&quot;}"><span class="text_exposed_show">&nbsp; </span></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7R776q9bNBU/UvkFkUZRgYI/AAAAAAAABR0/QPV555WXI5A/s1600/image.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7R776q9bNBU/UvkFkUZRgYI/AAAAAAAABR0/QPV555WXI5A/s1600/image.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="userContent" data-ft="{&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;K&quot;}"><span class="text_exposed_show"><b>&nbsp;</b></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;K&quot;}"><span class="text_exposed_show"><b>Passion and writing are like hand in glove, one needs the other to make it work.</b> Writing is the observation of the nuances of language and emotions of life, showing the spirit of the spiritual and evil of the diabolical, coming together in an on-going clash of plot and message, teaching through subliminal message and characterization through carefully constructed plots which weave the very essence of life and living. <span style="color: red;"><b>&nbsp;</b></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;K&quot;}"><span class="text_exposed_show"><span style="color: red;"><b>Writers write like sculptors sculpt.</b></span> They release the image through the uniting of their soul with the material at hand, seeing the hidden message found in beauty or distress by means of expression with unexpected and unusual clarity. Their words take us to the place, emotion, belief, or conflict. Our eyes see through their words.</span></span></span><br /><span class="userContent" data-ft="{&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;K&quot;}"><span class="text_exposed_show"><br /></span></span><span class="userContent" data-ft="{&quot;tn&quot;:&quot;K&quot;}"><span class="text_exposed_show">#Writing #Fine literature #Classics #Authors</span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://meridianwoman.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss</div>Norma L. Brumbaughhttps://plus.google.com/103403956549329767617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4521569645619521794.post-25402904576716111342014-02-04T23:47:00.000-08:002018-01-25T20:05:14.555-08:00THE SECRET? It Really Is About Love<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="color: red;">&nbsp;<b><i><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">I SPEAK because of LOVE</span></i></b></span></span></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><i><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">&nbsp;</span></i><span style="color: red;">A CONVERSATION SWEET~</span></span></b></span></span></span></div></div><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="color: red;">&nbsp;</span><b>A new friend and I were sitting at the table talking about our lives.</b> Our daughters are friends which brought us together to visit while the girls watched the Super Bowl. </span><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">We are the same age and God is important to both of us. </span></span>Then the conversation got<b> real</b>. She told me her story and I shared mine.</span> </span><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">She is an accomplished woman, a former corporate climber of the ladder of success who became a Christian in her early thirties. She married a Christian man and became a homemaker mom who also home-schooled her daughters. Then life took a turn for the worse. The bubble popped. They divorced, she returned to work, custody battles and so forth and so on. She asked about my children, my life, how God worked in my life.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span> Tears welled as emotions surfaced while I related some of my story. "Three hours seem like fifteen minutes," she was saying to me. "You understand how hard it is. You're so easy to talk to."&nbsp;</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Yes, I do understand. Pain did that to me. Yet, it no longer owns me. I am free of its curse.</span></span></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b><span style="color: red;">* * *</span></b></span></span></span></div><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="color: red;">THE SECRET: WHY WE USE OUR VOICES</span></span></b></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>In our sharing, we both gave an explanation for why we help others.</b> She uses her voice as a compliment to service. She helps others. While helping she often shares the grace of God. Right now she is helping a couple in their eighties with some pretty challenging issues. Her explanation was so beautiful that I want to remember it forever. ... She sees herself as a teapot.<b>&nbsp;</b></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Her analogy is a perfect picture of how it works in being real!</span></span></span></span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b><span style="color: red;">Her words: </span></b><i>"<b>I am like a little teapot.</b> </i></span></span></span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"></span></div><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><i>Christ pours his spirit into me and then I pour out to others what he has given me. It comes in the top--from God to me, and then it goes out the spout--from me to someone else. I do things for others things I would never have done before he came into my life. And, I am happy to do them. The important part is to keep myself open to God, to let him continually fill me so I have something to give to people he puts in my path."</i></span></span></span></span></blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>&nbsp;<span style="color: red;">* * *</span></b></span></span></span></span></div><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>My story is a little different. The changes in me came as a result of a vow and a list. </b>Both were promises I made to God from out of a wounded heart and after years of struggle<b>.</b> I decided that I would use anything he wanted to do in me or reveal to me <i>for his glory</i>, to help others who suffer in silence. I made the vow in February the week after my mate chose to leave our marriage of twenty-one years. The list was written on the day I was served divorce papers on my forty-sixth birthday.<i>&nbsp; I submitted the list to God in a prayer, asking him to do something I could not do on my own. I was on empty. I had done everything the best way I knew how--and it had never been enough. </i>The list was my declaration of what I wanted God to do in my life with a plea to change me.&nbsp; For all my trying, I hadn't been able to save my marriage, now I wanted God to save me from defeat and despair and from becoming a bitter old woman. </span><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">As I sought God for all I was worth and he initiated change in me, s</span>urprisingly (or not surprisingly, actually), every one of the items on the list became true in my life. I received a beauty make-over!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <span style="font-size: x-small;">(The list is abbreviated) </span></span></span></span></span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="color: red;"><b>My Vow: <span style="color: black;"><span style="color: red;">2002 - My first journal entry.</span></span></b></span></span></span></span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="color: red;"><b><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KauZrCv1GzY/UvO88DKy6AI/AAAAAAAABQA/wuF5blO2izA/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KauZrCv1GzY/UvO88DKy6AI/AAAAAAAABQA/wuF5blO2izA/s1600/image.jpg" width="200" /></a></b></span></span></span></span></span></div><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><i>"Gracious Father, Work on my heart and mind. Help me to learn to listen. Help me to push past my fear and to have eyes to see. I want to see Jesus. May my reality adjust and readjust as my vision for you changes. May I see you alone. <b>May the work you are doing in me be used outwardly to minister to others.</b> I seek you and you alone."&nbsp;</i></span></span></span></span></blockquote><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">&nbsp;&nbsp; <b><span style="color: red;">2002 - My List which changed my life. The Key - intentionality and surrender.</span></b></span></span></span></span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">1. God first in everything. I want his power and strength in all I do. <i>I want to change.</i></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">2. Healing in my emotions and deep inner spirit. <i>I want to be free. I want joy.</i></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">3. Be myself.<i> Let go of the chains and conflicts that bind me.</i></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">4. Become more self-decisive, <i>less worried about what others think</i>.</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">5. Develop more honest "transparent-real" friendships with godly people.</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">6. Seek deliverance from the bondage I've been under in this marriage relationship.</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">7. Pray for repentance which brings godliness, <i>for wellness in all areas of my being</i>.</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">8. Pray for God to change me. <i>I will pray for awareness and humbling.&nbsp;</i></span></span></span></span> </blockquote><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>It truly is amazing how God can take a broken person and breathe life into them</b>. His life becomes their life. His Spirit renews and heals their spirit. These days I can not imagine living without God. He has become my breath and being, my sustenance. It is hard to explain how even the simplest of common things, like a dainty wildflower, can reduce me to tears of wonderment and joy.&nbsp; </span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>When we give God access to our lives, what God gives to us, in return, <i>is his love</i>. We, in return, receive <span style="color: red;">a</span> <span style="color: red;">beautiful</span> <span style="color: red;">heart</span>.</b> After the healing transformation has begun, our hearts becomes free to love in a new way. Because of its swelling abundance it must share its love. It becomes an outworking of the love God has given us which replicates through us in an a sundry of ways. God makes something beautiful out of something ordinary. He is that way. We must trust him for the journey. I must say, though, it rarely is easy, and we are desperate at times. Yet, he walks with us right in step ... even when we can't see him through the fog of circumstances. It is such a privilege to help a sister who is going through the fire, to encourage her, to tell her that she will make it and life will get better <i>because you know it is true</i>, you've lived it. The more <i>real </i>God becomes the better it gets, even through the difficulties and heartaches. He touches us where we need touching, in our deep inner places. He frees us through his love, forgiveness, and life.</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>Because of love</b>,<i> true love</i>, <span style="color: red;">God gives us</span> the most gorgeous <span style="color: red;">Valentine</span> of them all.&nbsp;</span></span></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Its words say, "<i><b><span style="color: red;">I LOVE YOU!<span style="color: black;">"</span></span></b></i>&nbsp;</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Blessings ... Your friend, <i>Norma</i></span></span></span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0hkXuIRgiuE/UelnvM7RBdI/AAAAAAAAAZI/yJulcGMXlUI/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0hkXuIRgiuE/UelnvM7RBdI/AAAAAAAAAZI/yJulcGMXlUI/s1600/image.jpg" width="150" /></a></span></span></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="color: red;">The Lord bless you and keep you. May his face shine upon you.</span><span style="color: red;"> Never forget, you are loved.</span> <span style="color: red;"><i>Norma</i></span></span></span></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">-----</span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">#When A Woman Finds Her Voice </span></span></span><br /><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span></span></span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"></blockquote></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://meridianwoman.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss</div>Norma L. Brumbaughhttps://plus.google.com/103403956549329767617noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4521569645619521794.post-39109703103703637562014-02-04T19:22:00.000-08:002016-02-27T22:53:42.787-08:00Character is a Choice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><b><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NTKXdiI4CUg/UvHNt7uoSyI/AAAAAAAABPY/me90-2Ro04o/s1600/CHARACTER+TRAITS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NTKXdiI4CUg/UvHNt7uoSyI/AAAAAAAABPY/me90-2Ro04o/s1600/CHARACTER+TRAITS.jpg" width="320" /></a></b></span></span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><b>In life there are some areas that matter far more than wealth, power or fame.</b> Although we don't talk about them much, they are there nevertheless. I want to talk about one of them. It is so integral to person-hood and self realization; it is the area of character. </span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><b>We have certain perceptions about character.</b> We believe it is taught--and it is: we believe it is formed--and it is. We believe that a set of guiding principles are what character traits hold true--and they are indeed. There is one more thing that character is about. It is an internal dial that is constantly moving us through the moment by moment occasions of each day, like a compass giving us direction. Personal habits influence character. Belief fuels our choices. Until we cement our personal boundaries, the daily stuff may become a minefield of temptations, a cage of internal conflicts that form areas of bondage we must battle and struggle against.&nbsp; Someone's character is trashed when they succumb to the forces of lust or some form of want or greed. This comes quite naturally as we all know.</span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><b>&nbsp;</b></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="color: #073763;"><b>No matter how vigilant, one is always vulnerable.</b> One must determine what they hold sacred, what values they WILL live by and stand by through thick and thin. Areas of non-compromise. I believe the battle for character is won deep on the inside of the person. Especially in the context of a society at large which no longer supports a standard of acceptable behaviors that are wholesome. The assault on cultural mores opens up avenues for degradation we never thought possible, the slide down hill into the quagmire. One has to go up the hill, plan for the future. Choose how one is going to live their life in the actions of the will. We as individuals are always responsible for our own actions. We make the choices in most circumstances--except those whom have had the wrong thrust upon them by wrong-minded adults and others. These are not of their doing. Character is precious. We may not agree on politics or religion but we respect a person who lives a life of character and integrity.</span></span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>CHARACTER MATTERS </b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Be careful of your THOUGHTS:</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">For your Thoughts become your WORDS.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Be careful of your WORDS;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">For your Words become your ACTIONS.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Be careful of your ACTIONS;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">For your Actions become your HABITS.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Be careful of you HABITS;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">For your Habits become your CHARACTER.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Be careful of your CHARACTER;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">For your Character becomes your DESTINY.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">When wealth is lost, nothing is lost;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">When health is lost, something is lost;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">When character is lost, all is lost.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Sow a thought and you reap an act;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Sow an act and you reap a habit;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Sow a habit and you reap a character;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b>Sow a character and you reap a destiny.</b></span></blockquote><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp; Poem - courtesy of Pete Coulson</span></span> <br /><br />#Character Matters<div class="blogger-post-footer">http://meridianwoman.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss</div>Norma L. Brumbaughhttps://plus.google.com/103403956549329767617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4521569645619521794.post-48375416326174950462014-02-03T23:31:00.006-08:002014-02-04T18:45:59.157-08:00Truth is True, Opinion can Counterfeit as Truth<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6X0maemNHwI/UvFQ7Z5Ld5I/AAAAAAAABPM/rMnmqw9rbyw/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6X0maemNHwI/UvFQ7Z5Ld5I/AAAAAAAABPM/rMnmqw9rbyw/s1600/image.jpg" height="320" width="224" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">National Monument to the Forefathers: Plymouth, Massachusetts</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote class="tr_bq">&nbsp;<span style="font-size: x-small;"> "The monument depicts Faith, and Faith is pointing to God and has an open Geneva Bible and a star of wisdom." Marshall Foster.&nbsp; Photo and quote from Wikipedia. Statue is featured in the movie, <i>Monumental</i>, a movie about the bedrock beliefs that shaped America, starring Kirk Cameron. </span></blockquote></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026"/></xml><![endif]--><b><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"></span></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><b>Truth is <i>always</i> true.</b> Truth cannot be manipulated. It either is the truth or it isn't the truth. If something is true and always will be true, it is incapable of being something it is not. It is no longer easy to talk about truth. It has become a 'dirty' little concept in many circles. Why is this? I could say why I think it is this way, but that isn't necessary. Truth represents a standard, an absolute, something unyielding. The natural parameters of truth, in its purity, get in the way of its fully being embraced. It has limits that determine behavior. It may be easier to denounce or avoid what is true because then a life can be lived without binding restraint. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><b>If truth were to bend<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it would not be truth.</b> The nature of truth means it cannot be manipulated. ‘Find your own truth’ is a statement one hears which seems to mean, what is true for that individual person.&nbsp; That statement seems in-congruent with the steadfastness of truth. Yet, we all understand its meaning. It is a subjective truth, truth based on the individual’s belief. or dare I say, their opinion on what is true. In truth,<i> true truth</i> is based on something that will always remain true—the same--it will never change. <i>It is wrong to steal. </i>That will always be true, an agreed upon principle for behavior, <i>even though people steal in little deceitful ways and big obtuse ways</i>. The truth will always be the truth, regardless of whether it is believed or not. Truth stands alone. If it is an inconvenient truth, then it may be hidden or buried or disbelieved. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><b>Understanding truth can be a little complicated.</b> There was one time when I stood alone for something I believed in. It was in the workplace. I felt I must stand up if I was to be true to my own convictions and self. So, in a sense, the thing I stood up for may be perceived as ‘my own truth,’ and my colleagues, in their respect, were living out their ‘own truth.’ I believed in a truth but others did not see it as I saw it. We differed in our understanding, perceptions and beliefs, in a situation, it could be argued, where there was no true right or wrong. We all felt passionate about what we believed and it was not easy.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><b>There are times when truth is being compromised. </b>Whistle blowers seek to expose the truth, the coverup, the corruption, the wrong doings and wrong behaviors. This is difficult and even may be deadly. They know a truth, an unpopular truth, that to expose will be of potential risk to them. Someone I know experienced this very scenario. He was in a management position with an agriculture processing company. During the course of his work, he uncovered some inside corruption. He went to the top with his findings. The truth was quickly silenced. He was given notice. It stung. But he knew--that didn’t make it any less the truth. Spiritually speaking, truth is what binds the Bible together cover to cover.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><b> </b></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><b>Christ said some astonishing words that few, if any, could comprehend at the time.</b> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.” </i>He was claiming to be The Truth, not just as a way to find truth. His sacrificial life (life, death, and resurrection) backed up these words. These were not empty promises with false hope nor were they rash words. Jesus’ death and resurrection validated his earlier claims, proving the Messenger’s message as true, a truth for in that day and still apropos for our present day and on ahead into future centuries.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><b>People have an awareness of truth even if they do not believe the the concept of a universal truth</b>. An argument for the defense of truth is found in everyone's conscience. Embedded within our thinking is a strong sense of right and wrong. Even a very young child displays an awareness of this. They will hide when they sneak something that doesn’t belong to them. People cry 'foul' when there is a cover-up or lack of equality in some way that affects their person or community or even nation. Fair treatment is action everyone understands and expects. “Just’ treatment is in the same category, both related to a sense of what is true, what is right societal behavior. “Speak the whole truth and nothing but the truth,” are not fanciful or empty words. When testifying in court, the unvarnished truth contains the facts,&nbsp; as they were at the time and not as we wish they had been. Nothing but the truth is resolute. It cannot be manipulated through embellishment or minimization of details. Truth is connected to a code of behavior. Truth-telling has its basis in truth. Truth can not be shaken or destroyed. It remains and endures.</span></div><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><b>Jesus Christ makes no apology.</b> His very life was a defending of truth. He was a Rock in the sifting sands of time and shifting waves of public opinion. To this day, we can measure truth by actualizing the life of Christ. The Sermon on the Mount, found in the gospel of Matthew, chapters 5, 6, and 7 is truth we are well advised to heed that it might go well with us. Framed in Christ’s words is how truth should be lived.</span></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">"<b>Blessed</b> are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.<b> Blessed</b> are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. <b>Blessed</b> are the meek, for they shall&nbsp; inherit the earth. <b>Blessed </b>are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. <b>Blessed </b>are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.<b> Blessed </b>are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. <b>Blessed </b>are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. <b>Blessed</b> are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. <b>Blessed</b> are you when other revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. <b>Rejoice </b>and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Matthew 5:3-12) ESV&nbsp;</span></span></div></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">&nbsp;<b>Truth, would not be truth if manipulated by changing days and societal mores.</b> The things of which Christ said are most important are not on many agendas or to-do lists. That doesn't make them any less true. We see a few saints who qualify for the groupings listed above. Their understanding of truth is lived out God's way. It is as if God's truth flows into them and then flows out of their spirit. It is of a different quality than the world around them. Truth has a reality about it that frames the question. Many people believe that truth is relative. It it is relative, then it couldn't possibly be truth. The two are in contradiction.</span><br /><br /><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><i>A rose is a rose ...</i></span></b><br />---------<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><i>#truth telling #opinion #spiritual #Beatitudes #Jesus and truth #relative truth #Monumental #Kirk Cameron</i></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://meridianwoman.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss</div>Norma L. Brumbaughhttps://plus.google.com/103403956549329767617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4521569645619521794.post-80645662630178754712014-01-31T22:02:00.002-08:002016-02-27T22:53:51.757-08:00Book Writing & a Message for Life's Pathway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b>A GREAT COMPELLING&nbsp;</b><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b><span style="color: purple;"> </span></b></span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b><span style="color: purple;">The Beauty of Writing: God Gives the Message to the Messenger.</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;georgia&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><i>Coming soon ...</i></span><b><span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Sometimes we look back to see where we've come from. </b></span>Other times we look forward to see where we're headed. And then there's reality, where we're at this point in time. For some of us, we never quite arrive at that place where we want to be. If we let this stop us then it will impede our progress. Looking forward is critical to our success. A plan is needful, too.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><b>Introspection is helpful but it also can be crippling.</b></span> All depends. It can keep us stationery and immobile--if we're stuck looking backwards or inward. Action is necessary to start a movement forward, the snowball effect. It helps to have a purposed approach. It has been this way for me in my various writings. I have a target audience. The Christian community is where I focus my creative energies. There is something I have found in my walk with God that has made a change-around in my life. So much so, that I want to give my readers a taste of what I have learned and received so they will want it for themselves. My desire to share these thoughts come in the form of something I term, "A Great Compelling." It would be wrong of me to keep quiet. So, I speak and write.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #20124d;"><b><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">~I want my readers to know the Lord Jesus Christ for in him truth is found.</span></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; ~I want my readers to grow closer to their heavenly Father in the richness of relationship.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; <span style="color: purple;"><b>~ I want my readers to let go of their anger, pain, bondage, sin, problems, and insecurities.</b></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ~ I want my readers to find and experience greater joy, contentment, peace, hope and love.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="color: #20124d;"><b> ~I desire for my readers renewal, revival, rejuvenation, restoration, revitalizing.</b></span> </span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~I wish for my readers a hunger for spiritual life that is never satiated or boring.</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="color: purple;"><b> ~I wish for my readers an intimate walk with God that is rich and satisfying, delightful.</b></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><b>&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; </b><span style="color: black;">~I wish for my readers a hope that never dies, a belief that keeps on believing, and&nbsp;life that is real. </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #20124d;">~I wish for my readers a deeper faith that is not uprooted by the trials of living but is steadfast.</span>&nbsp;</span></b></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="color: purple;"><b><span style="color: black;">In some small way, I am invested in the lives of my readership.</span></b><span style="color: black;"> My writing reflects the call I have on my life. A call I feel called to enact and complete for the remaining years of my life be they many or few. I love God and I love his Word, it spills out of me and cannot be contained. He has done so much for me that words fail to express how dear he has become to me.</span><b><span style="color: black;"> </span></b><span style="color: black;">Life is joy when one lives close to God. He has a way of changing even the smallest of encounters into causes for celebration. A smile, a handshake, a lovely flower, a blade of grass, a soft baby blanket, the aroma of baking bread, the embrace of a friend--a healed heart and a forgiven soul. <span style="color: purple;">Everything <i>is</i> important when God is in control. He is a kind friend.</span></span><b><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: purple;"> <span style="color: #20124d;">Father God makes beauty from ashes and joy which comes in the morning.</span></span></span> </b></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">#book #BlogRadio #Spirituality #Intimacy with God</span><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://meridianwoman.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss</div>Norma L. Brumbaughhttps://plus.google.com/103403956549329767617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4521569645619521794.post-1466182205047478122014-01-29T16:53:00.001-08:002014-01-31T22:37:10.815-08:00Is God into Book Marketing? <span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><b>I am a person of many theories</b>. I notice a trend and then I try to make sense of it, what it could mean. I guess it is the part of me that is part philosopher. Blend that with my desire for spiritual truth, an awareness of God at work, and you get an interesting dynamic. The Christian&nbsp; and religious book genre is something I have been tracking over the years. Some books rise to the top and get lots of attention. Is it just beginner's luck, good timing, or something else?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><b>A few years ago I was teaching an adult Sunday school class about ways to go deeper with God.</b> I made a statement then that got a little traction in the group. I mentioned that I have noticed certain books in the "Christian/Religious" genre that have literally flown off the bookstore shelf and into peoples homes around the globe. Some of these have been a phenomenal success (and unexpected) from the marketing analysis point of view. Their amazing success has seemed almost uncanny.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><b>I don't think the book selling success is strictly of the author's doing or writing skill.</b> No, I think not. There is another dynamic at play, at least I think there is. I think it has a lot to do with God. How so? My theory is this: I believe that God uses certain author's books to spread his message around the world. He multiplies the effort. I find it interesting what people are chosen for this way of being used. Their backgrounds vary and their books are widely divergent. But, the message inside their books, have a similarity. <i>Redemption</i> finds its way into their books' pages. Life, truth, and forgiveness are part of the message as well as overcoming and healing. Purpose is given to life, and a pursuit of greater understanding bleeds through the pages. I do not minimize the talents of the writers nor their effort in getting their books to press. Without their commitment to the process, we would be the losers.</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><b>~ 3 BOOKS ~</b></span></div><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><b>I will name three books that I believe that are this way.</b>&nbsp; Books written and delivered through the tools of believers in Christ in this present day. The books they have written have impacted lives around the globe. Even some of the people I know.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><i><b>The Shack </b></i><b>by Wm. Paul Young</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><b>&nbsp;</b></span><img alt="" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Whg%2BNyL1L._SL150_.jpg" height="200" width="123" /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><b>Amazon link</b><i><b>--<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Shack-Wm-Paul-Young/dp/160941411X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1391041927&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=The+Shack" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Shack</a>&nbsp;</b></i></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif;">The Shack</span>&nbsp; </i></span>is a fiction book by Paul Young, through the yskills found in a natural born storyteller</b>. The reader is placed in the mind of a man hurt by life and then haunted by the memory of the death of his young daughter. He cannot escape the punishment that comes with the joining of his father's tyrannical behavior with the losing of his innocent sweet child. God is presented in the form of three persons using surprising imagery. The book is both feared and embraced by the faith community. I find it delightful. It is obvious that this book is written to show the way God loves, heals, and revives people in the church whom have been injured in their emotions. The truths have a way of touching the inner person.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-style: italic;"> Prayer of Jabez </b></span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center;">by Bruce Wilkinson</b></div></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><b><img alt="" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21zbAqysPnL._SL150_.jpg" height="200" style="margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px;" width="121" /> </b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Prayer-Jabez-Bruce-Wilkinson/dp/0739424726/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1391042389&amp;sr=1-6&amp;keywords=the+prayer+of+jabez" target="_blank">Amazon Link</a></span><i><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Prayer-Jabez-Bruce-Wilkinson/dp/0739424726/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1391042389&amp;sr=1-6&amp;keywords=the+prayer+of+jabez" target="_blank"> - Prayer of Jabez</a></span>&nbsp;</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><b>I heard about <i>Prayer of Jabez</i> soon after it was released. Members in my church were talking about it.</b> They were asking each other what to make of it. Did it work? How to apply it to their lives. This book takes a passage in the Bible, nestled in a book in the Old Testament, and explains its application to today. It explains that God wants to bless us and to expand our influence within the sphere of our influence. I remember the day I bought my first copy. I was in Walmart. A young woman took it off the shelf and told her male friend, "If you do what this books says you're supposed to get what you want." Of course, that was an abuse of the concept in the book. One has to be tied closely to the Source, God himself, and yielded to his way of living life. Many pray the prayer Jabez prayed as part of their devotional life.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><i><b>The Purpose Drive Life</b></i><b> by Rick Warren</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><b><img class="image-stretch-vertical" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51cvkgvI50L.jpg" height="200" id="igImage" style="max-height: 500px; max-width: 332px;" width="132" />&nbsp;</b> </span><br /><b><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Purpose-Driven-Life-Rick-Warren/dp/0310205719/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1391042133&amp;sr=1-3&amp;keywords=the+purpose+driven+life" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon link - </a></span><i><span style="font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Purpose-Driven-Life-Rick-Warren/dp/0310205719/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1391042133&amp;sr=1-3&amp;keywords=the+purpose+driven+life" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Purpose Driven Life</a>&nbsp;</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><b>Rick Warren lays out a forty week process in his book, <i>The Purpose Driven Life, </i>for helping people find out their purpose in life.</b> Then he gives tools for living it out. It is an easy book to read for it is written for the layman who just wants to live a life that has substantive purpose. A plan for sharing this book and its content with others is encouraged through video sessions and lessons that are implemented within homes and churches, with neighbors and friends. My sister's family participated in a neighborhood study. It was a blessing in many ways and brought people together in a non-threatening way to discuss spiritual truths. A friendship developed between the people and a sharing of areas of faith with acceptance a part of this dynamic.</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://meridianwoman.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss</div>Norma L. Brumbaughhttps://plus.google.com/103403956549329767617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4521569645619521794.post-81683996077132082922014-01-25T22:46:00.007-08:002014-01-25T22:51:58.106-08:00Prayer that speaks, a consolation text.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026"/> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout v:ext="edit"> <o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nPs01fgcpuE/Uko_xQbqrrI/AAAAAAAAAs8/cTyP2WSZ9aU/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nPs01fgcpuE/Uko_xQbqrrI/AAAAAAAAAs8/cTyP2WSZ9aU/s1600/image.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><b>Meditation at a Monastery: C<i>ontemplative prayer. Prayerful thoughts that speak.</i></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">CONSOLATION</span></b></div><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">Why am I here, dear God? Why a monastery? Why do I have this desire to be here? I do not drink and I am not catholic. It does not make sense.</span></b></div><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My dear child, it is not for you as much as it is for others, my people. Some have closed minds. They think I only work one way. But that is a falsity. I work in people’s lives, to change them, to bring them closer to myself. Some resist this thinking. They have to have neat little boxes with human parameters</i>.</span><b><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">&nbsp;</span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">Why is it that way? Why do people become rigid?</span></b></div><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">They don’t understand.</i></span></div><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">What don’t they understand?</span></b></div><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My ways are complex yet simple. So simple that they stumble upon them. My grace is for all people, to all people, loving and kind, a sweet, sweet savor.</i></span></div><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">What is complex about it?</span></b></div><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I am complex, as you well know. You can never know all there is to know about me</i>. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">My ways are infinite. My truths, unsearchable, unknowable, in their fullness. Some day you will know more of my ways, my truths. That is what Heaven is for. We become family in the here-after, a beautiful loving family. There will be no denominations in heaven, no separation or boundaries of thought. We will be of one mind and one spirit, the Spirit of the living God. </i></span></div><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><b><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">Praises? I can’t wait for that beautiful day.</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: .5in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Garamond;"><span style="font-family: Times,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;">#prayer #monastery #God </span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://meridianwoman.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss</div>Norma L. Brumbaughhttps://plus.google.com/103403956549329767617noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4521569645619521794.post-35663462538428189552014-01-23T10:52:00.004-08:002016-02-27T22:54:11.411-08:00Praying that Makes the Grade, Why or Why Not?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SPEAKING OF PRAYER &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <i>Meridian Minute no. 20</i></b></span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"> </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="irc_mut" src="http://files.myopera.com/lehongan/albums/812601/praying-hands-cross.jpg" height="200" id="irc_mi" style="margin-top: 40px;" width="152" /></div><br /><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Two men went...to pray</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">. ... The Pharisee stood and was praying this... ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust adulterers or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week...’ but the tax collector standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">God be merciful to me, the sinner!</b>’” </i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Luke 18:11, 12 NIV</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br /></i></span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Prayer. What is prayer?</b> For the people of faith, prayer is the game changer, the life-blood, the MO, the power. The way we get God’s attention to gain audience with him. God tells us to pray and that our prayers are of value to him. We would not get far without prayer, nor would we want to. Do you believe in miracles? Prayer is asking for miracles in the everyday and the wished-for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>It is activated through faith that views prayer as a gateway to heaven, God, by means of supplication. </span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">There are prayers and then there is praying.</b> Scripted prayers are formal in nature. Simple ordinary prayers are spoken in random phrases. Not all prayers are alike. What does God look at when we pray? How are our prayers received? We get a glimpse into the heart of the matter in the passage of the pharisee and publican (tax collector). The pharisee prayed a prayer filled with pious words and self-congratulation on his whiteness and purity of behavior. The penitent tax collector, on the other hand, spoke from a humbled attitude, aware of his unworthy state. Both spoke from their hearts. Their words fully exposed the truth found within their souls. </span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The pharisee spoke with an attitude of pride or arrogance.</b> Self-righteous glorying is a falsity, a show of religion and, in reality, empty words and vain glory. The tax collector’s heart reveals a different sort of attitude. He is truthful, honest about his failures. Admitting his shame, taking ownership of the true state of affairs within himself, speaking out of his brokenness. He is in need of mercy from God. One person’s was for show, prideful, and the other person’s was sincere, repentant. Each one's motivation is obvious.</span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="mso-comment-date: 20140123T1022; mso-comment-reference: W_1;"><span style="mso-comment-continuation: 2;"><span style="mso-comment-continuation: 3;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">In Christendom, we find traces of both types of prayers and many in between.</b></span></span></a> Some prayers are requests. Others are desires. Most have an expectant action. When God pulls off a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>miracle, another type of prayer comes as a result. Praises in worship are prayers that honor God from a heart of thankfulness. There is another kind of prayer that originates from deep inside, voiced more as a plea for help than as a worshipful interlude. During suffering and sorrow, desperate and despairing people pray with great passion. Pretense is left behind. God becomes especially real during the difficulty. All the external conditions of life mean little as we pour our heart and soul out to God. Seeking him to meet us during the crisis of faith. </span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I have experienced God’s tender graces during heart-wrenching times.</b> It is when I pray my most unaffected prayers as I seek God for hope, help, and answers. “God be merciful to me, the sinner,” is asking God to extend grace even though it is undeserved. That is honest talk. Prayer, when it is that way, is stripped away of all fluff and pontificating. It is raw, open, contrite, pleasing to the heart of God. The Scripture passage says that the tax collector went away justified. God listened to his prayer and acted in response to this plea. It was a miracle of grace. Prayers of a humble person seek audience with God, and, in so doing, touch the heart of God.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal">* * * * *</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">#God, #prayer #spiritual </span></div><div style="mso-element: comment-list;"><hr align="left" class="msocomoff" size="1" width="33%" /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://meridianwoman.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss</div>Norma L. Brumbaughhttps://plus.google.com/103403956549329767617noreply@blogger.com0